Greetings All!I am totally a new guy when it comes to towing, camping etc. In 09 we bought a Nissan Pathfinder SE 4x4 V6, its been a great vehicle. Took it to a local RV place in my area. They've explained that it will tow " anything " we wanted, but they couldn't quote me the figures of what I could tow in weight. We promptly left that dealership. Anywho I'm looking to figure out what the approx weight of travel trailer I could tow with my vehicle. From taking everything I have at the moment to a local weight scale I know that :- Vehicle weights 4484 lbs - People and cargo weights 824.6 lbs* Tongue weight is 600lbs Been to several sites looking it up but they all seem to throw out abbreviations that I get confused with. Anyone able to point me in the right direction of figuring this out?Cheers!

Well no it won't 'tow anything', sorry to share the bad news but it will hardly tow anything. Look at the 1999 Trailer Life towing guide: PDF. This is a OK general guide that they publish annually. It will get you in the ballpark, and in the case of your vehicle, with a single line entry, it's probably close to right.Scroll down to your vehicle and if I'm reading it right it will tow a max of 5000 pounds with an automatic trans and 3500# with a manual. You are probably limited to a popup camper or other very very light weight unit like some of the teardrop campers (grossly overpriced in my view).You have learned one hard fact, do not believe a word that comes out of a RV salesman's mouth, especially when it comes to tow vehicles. Fortunately you learned that before you bought something from him.

Thanks, Agesilaus!I did look at the 09 trailer life towing guide, it showed 6000lbs tow cap for my vehicle. Was using that as a guide for the figure that I had GCWR=11,133lbs and could look for a trailer around 4,850 lbs. Since this is the first time im doing this I'm just not sure if that sounds right.

600 pounds of max tongue weight. 4,600 pound trailer wet and loaded should be 600 at 13%. Kinda far from Nissan's 6,000 TT max weight. So add the people, hitch and tongue weight...easy 1,500 pounds. What's your payload? 1,170 to 1,554 lbs.?

Don't forget you will be putting 'stuff' in that trailer. Figure 1000-1200 pounds which comes off the max tow weight. You will 100 percent want a anti-sway hitch which also will come off the weight you can tow. I'd figure 3000-3500 (safe) max

Definitely felt like I'd have to take an additional 100 lbs off the top at least for additional weight. Like your saying though we would be limited on our trailer selections. I've been thinking of actually upgrading our second car to a Truck to be able to tow more. For the trailer, we have a family of five so it would be terribly cramped in a tear drop. So might be worth looking into getting a truck.

1st Timer Here, Towing Question | Good Sam Community

mkirsch
Nomad II
Sep 21, 2017
I don't think he's ditching the Pathfinder, just not planning on towing anything with it. Hence the idea of the Class C.
drsteve
Explorer
Sep 21, 2017
PumpNDump wrote:
Just giving an update. Not planning on towing an RV with the Nissan. So no need to worry. :)

We're looking at a local RV show in hopes of getting a bit of a better deal. Staying within the 3500lb or below range so there are some things we're gonna have to just get over not having in the TT. But we have also thought about used Class C as well.

If you are ditching the Pathfinder, you will have no need to stay under 3500 lb.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
Sep 21, 2017
Googled payload for your vehicle - results:

You state: People and cargo weights 824.6 lbs

1265 - 825 = 440 lbs left for tongue weight.

Calculate that by multiplying TT gross weight by 13%, then add on WDH weight (if you can even use one on this vehicle), and subtract from 440lbs.

Good luck with that - take your own advice and get a better tow vehicle.
Pop-Pop_C
Explorer
Sep 20, 2017
Salesmen will say any thing to make the sale.
Pulling is one thing, stopping is another!
Also, are you going to the local campground 50 miles away or across the country.
PumpNDump
Explorer
Sep 20, 2017
Just giving an update. Not planning on towing an RV with the Nissan. So no need to worry. :)

We're looking at a local RV show in hopes of getting a bit of a better deal. Staying within the 3500lb or below range so there are some things we're gonna have to just get over not having in the TT. But we have also thought about used Class C as well.
DownTheAvenue
Explorer
Sep 09, 2017
996Pilot wrote:
PumpNDump wrote:
We were thinking something like this

https://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Lemke-RV-2989768/listing/2017-Keystone-Springdale-303BH-122694951

Don't even think about it with a Pathfinder V6. 9600# loaded weight (if you stay within that) I'd be looking at 3/4 ton trucks JMHO. Bottom line - you DO NOT have a good tow vehicle. You have a sport SUV that you might occasionally tow a small utility trailer with or a small motorcycle trailer with. PERIOD.

EXACTLY! I bet the OP goes ahead and tries to tow a big RV with that little Nissan. I sure hope he doesn't kill himself or someone else when that trailer goes to fishtailing and overturns taking that little Nissan with it.
996Pilot
Explorer
Sep 08, 2017
PumpNDump wrote:
We were thinking something like this

https://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Lemke-RV-2989768/listing/2017-Keystone-Springdale-303BH-122694951

Don't even think about it with a Pathfinder V6. 9600# loaded weight (if you stay within that) I'd be looking at 3/4 ton trucks JMHO. Bottom line - you DO NOT have a good tow vehicle. You have a sport SUV that you might occasionally tow a small utility trailer with or a small motorcycle trailer with. PERIOD.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Sep 08, 2017
Generally, V6 vehicles like yours do well with trailers about 3500 lbs fully loaded. BTW I owned the same vehicle in the infiniti brand. Go to 5000 lbs and you will be very unhappy
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2017
"But there's potential with other family members crashing in the trailer..."

Possibly in your family, not mine but I do bring a tent for them to pitch and sleep.
PumpNDump
Explorer
Sep 08, 2017
We were thinking something like this

https://www.rvtrader.com/dealers/Lemke-RV-2989768/listing/2017-Keystone-Springdale-303BH-122694951

We have only 4 people plus a dog. Wife wants a kitchen and bunks for the kids as needs. But there's potential with other family members crashing in the trailer so if we can afford the weight we'd like to go with the most size. But this trailer I posted would be our dream trailer and will not be able to tow something like this with our SUV. Which means sacrifices will need to be made if we cannot do a truck and a trailer at the same time. I love the SUV and hey its paid off so thats not bad either lol.